Key allies Naidu, Nitish endorse Modi for PM, Bihar CM criticises Opposition

NEW DELHI: As the leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including key constituents — TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar — gathered at the old Parliament House on Friday to officially name Narendra Modi as the leader of the alliance, it was Nitish Kumar who used the occasion to hit out at the Opposition.

NDA leaders endorsed Modi as the leader of the grouping with a message to balance regional aspirations and national interests.

Speaking at the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting here, BJP allies JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, NCP chief Ajit Pawar, HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi among others supported the proposal moved by BJP leader Rajnath Singh to elect Modi as the leader of the NDA.

Nitish Kumar expressed confidence that Modi will develop India in a big way and also pay attention to Bihar. “We are confident that Modi will develop India and we will wholeheartedly support him every passing day,” Kumar said. “All the pending works of Bihar will be done. It is a very good thing that all of us have come together and we will all work together with you. ... we will all work under your leadership,” he said.

The Bihar chief minister slammed the Opposition and expressed confidence that they will be defeated in the next Lok Sabha elections.

“I have noticed that a few people have won (Lok Sabha elections) here and there by saying useless things. They haven’t done any work and never served the country. Next time when you win, they all will be defeated,” Kumar said.

Naidu said Modi’s rallies in Andhra Pradesh helped the TDP win 16 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

“Balancing regional aspirations and national interests must run parallelly while ensuring holistic development for all strata of society,” Naidu said.

“Today, India is having the right leader at the right time, that is Narendra Modi. This is a very good opportunity for India. If you miss now, you will miss forever. That is why we are having a wonderful opportunity today,” Naidu said.

The meeting in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the old Parliament House, also witnessed a lot of bonhomie as well as lighter moments among the leaders with Shinde describing the alliance as a “Fevicol bond”, Kumar trying to touch the feet of Modi, who stopped him midway and the prime minister patting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his shoulder.

LJP(Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, who repeatedly referred to Modi as ‘Sir’ while supporting the resolution, received a warm embrace from the prime minister. Jana Sena Party Pawan Kalyan received a special mention in Modi’s speech when he said that “Pawan was not wind but a storm”.

Paswan credited Modi for the NDA victory, while Kalyan asserted that India would not bow down before anyone as long as Modi was the prime minister.

At the outset, as soon as Modi entered the Central Hall for the NDA meeting, he bowed before a copy of the Constitution placed there, and lifted it to his forehead reverentially.

Another ally, RLD chief Jayant Singh, who was seated in the audience with other leaders, later posted on X: “NDA (New - Developed - Aspirational India) has chosen our Prime Minister for a historic third term, Shri Narendra Modi ji!”